Indonesia Is Considering a National Alcohol Ban

Farewell, Bintang? Au revoir, Anker? The Indonesian House of Representatives is considering a bill that bans producing, consuming, or distributing beverages that contain more than one percent alcohol throughout the country. But that's not all it would curb: Some officials believe that the ban, which is up for a vote in the coming weeks, could effectively kill the local tourism industry. While many of the nearly 11 million people who visit Indonesia annually want to relax on beaches or have an Elizabeth Gilbert-style Eat, Pray, Love experience, others come to take part in resort culture on islands like Bali, which unlike the rest of the country, is predominantly Hindu and has looser laws about alcohol. Hariyadi Sukamdani, head of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), told the Jakarta Post that "If the bill is passed, our business will be done. No matter how beautiful the country is, if [tourists] can't find alcohol, they won't want to come here."

This isn't the first time that Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, has struggled to find a balance between economic growth and adherence to local customs. In May, Indonesia passed a law blocking the sale of beer in convenience stores and other small neighborhood shops. Although that meant that it was still possible to buy beer, wine, and spirits in large supermarkets and at bars and restaurants, it signaled a likelihood that officials might take additional steps to limit alcohol's availability throughout the country. At that point, Bali tourism office head A.A. Gede Yuniartha Putra expressed concern that his island would be the hardest hit by the new rulings, since their economy depends so heavily on travelers coming from North America, Australia, and Europe: "Foreigners like to have a drink when they are here. This is going to seriously affect tourism."

Indonesia isn't the only place examining the way that alcohol-friendly tourists affect the community around them. The U.K. is taking stronger measures to control alcohol consumption in airports (although there's no outright ban...yet) as a way to try and curb the number of incidents with drunk and disorderly passengers getting booted from planes or causing drama in the skies.